Pre-workout supplements are designed to (you guessed it!) be taken before you exercise. They can help boost your energy and endurance so you can exercise harder and get the most out of every workout. But can you take pre-workout for weight loss?
While a pre-workout formula can be part of a fitness and healthy eating plan that helps you lose weight, it doesn’t directly influence weight loss, says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “But what it can do is increase focus and delay fatigue during exercise, which can help you maintain a higher level of performance for a longer period of time — and that can affect how many calories you ultimately burn.”
We’ll go into greater detail regarding how pre-workout supplements can influence weight management. But first, let’s start with the basics.
What Is Pre-Workout?
The goal of a pre-workout supplement is to enhance workout performance*, and the market is filled with products containing a variety of ingredients that claim to help do that. But not all of those claims are backed by science. “And that’s one of the things that makes Beachbody Performance Energize different,” says Thieme. “We use ingredients that are supported by research.”
These ingredients include:
1. Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine is an amino acid that may help delay muscular fatigue during hard workouts.* But to reap its benefits, you need to take it regularly.
“Beta-alanine isn’t like caffeine — it doesn’t have an acute effect on workout performance,” says Thieme. “Like creatine, it can take up to a month with regular supplementation to build up to sufficient levels in your system to make a difference in your workout performance.”
Sometimes beta-alanine excites the sensory neurons in your skin, causing tingles. This sensation is harmless and temporary, says Thieme. “But if it bothers you, reduce or space out your serving,” he adds.
2. Caffeine
Beachbody Performance Energize contains about as much caffeine as an eight-ounce cup of coffee. “That’s all most people need to reap caffeine’s performance-enhancing benefits, including enhanced focus and endurance,”* says Thieme.
3. Quercetin
Quercetin is a powerful phytonutrient that can help improve endurance and delay exercise-induced muscle fatigue. It works synergistically with caffeine and beta-alanine to help increase muscle power output so that your workouts feel easier.*
Can Pre-Workout Help With Weight Loss?
As stated above, while a pre-workout supplement likely won’t trigger your body to burn more fat directly, it can help you accomplish fitness goals by boosting your workout performance.* “The longer you’re able to maintain a high level of effort in your workouts, the more calories you’ll burn and the more fat you can potentially lose over time as a result,” says Thieme.
Should I Use Pre-Workout?
The performance-enhancing benefits of a high-quality, effective pre-workout supplement such as Beachbody Performance Energize make it a good option for just about anyone who wants to level-up their training, says Thieme, adding that you should always check with your doctor first — especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Also, you should read and follow all label instructions.
Energize Pre-Workout may be right for you if you want to help:
Boost focus, energy, and endurance.*
Delay the onset of muscle burn and fatigue.*
Improve performance.*
Feel less tired during workouts.*
Feel dialed into your sweat sessions.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
